Web-printing machine



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J. D. CAPLINGER WEB PRINTING MACHINE 2 shams-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14 1918 Patented ov. 13, i923.

maar@ JG D. CAPLINGEB, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNQR TO CL A. KELLOGG,

. 0F NEW YORK, N. Y'.

WEB-PRINTING MACHXNE.

Application filed September 14, 191e. Serial No. 254,162.

To all whom, t may com/em.'

Be it known that l, JOHN D. CYAPLINGER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Web-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to certain improver ments in that class or type of fiat bed web printing machines, of which the machine shown and claimed in my co-pending patent applicationz Serial No. 216,67 5 is a type, and more partlcularly in such machines of this class or type as are so constructed and arranged as to require equalization or equivalent control or manipulation of the web feeding means to compensate for slowing down or complete stoppage of the web during the period or interval of impression, and the object of the invention is in part to provide a machine of this general character of a simple, compact and eflicient nature wherein the members of the printing couple, together with the means for throwing the same on and o impression, areso constructed and arranged as to permit of completing the impression during a comparatively short interval of time. in such a manner as to afford a correspondingly increased 20' and lengthened time for the feeding and equalization of the movement of the web required between Vimpressions so as to permit operation of the improved printing machine at a correspondingly increased capacity, and in part, to provide a machine of this general character having novel and improved means for lessening the drag and stress upon the web due to frictional contact or slip over the impression surface during its feeding movement. whereby a corresponding increase in the rate of travel of the web and consequent increased capacity of the improved printing machine is assured.

The invention consists in a printin machine of the character hereinbefore re erred to having a printing couple including a flat movement to assure rolling movement of one member over and along the other during impression, wherein means is provided for so manipulating or controlling the feeding movement of the web as to assure its slowing down or complete stoppage during the time or period of impresslon, and its move- -ment at correspondingly increased velocity at other times to compensate for such slowing down or stoppage, and wherein the oscillatory or otherwise movable member of the printing couple is so operated as to assure completion of the impression within a comparatively short or small proportion of its movement in order that a correspondingly longer or increased interval of time. is provided for between impressions for shifting or feeding the web and compensating for the non-uniform travel thereof with a view to increasing the speed or capacitv with which theA improved printing machine may be operated.

The invention also consists in a web printin machine of the general character herein efore set forth wherein one of the members of the printing couple is stationary during impression, at least as regards progressive or forward movement in the direction of the web feed, whilst the other member of said couple, if not moved with a true oscillatory movement isY at least so actuated as to travel in a continuous endless path with a view to lessening stress and lessened capacity due to stoppage or reversal of the direction of its movement, its actuation being of such a nature during impression as to assure rolling co-operation of its impression surface with the form, and to compensate for stoppage of the web feed during impression.

The invention also consists in a web printing machine of this general character where.- in means is provided for so controllin or manipulating the web between im ressions as to reduce or eliminate frictiona contact of the same with the impression surface with a view to permitting equalization and Inanipulation of the web during a maximum time, and preventing lessening of the capacity of the machine due to the stress which 100 would, otherwise be imposed upon the web by dragging or ulling it forward over the impressmn sur ace when the latter is travelling with a less velocity or in a direction different than that of the web feed.

The invention also contemplates certain novel features of the construction, and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improved printing machine whereby the same'is rendered simpler and 2G accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation ot' a perfecting web printing machine embodying my improvements, the member of the respective couples being shown in the positions wherein they stand midway ot' the return or non-impression stroke of their oscillatory members.

Figure 2 is another view, somewhat similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the members of the couples at or approaching the ends of the non-impression or return strokes of the said oscillatory members.

Figure 3 is a third view somewhat similar to the preceding iigures, but illustrating the members of the respective couples in the positions which they assume at the commencement of impression and Figure 4 is yet another View, somewhat similar to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, illus- @il trating the parts in the positions in which they stand at the close or completion of the impression.

In these views I have illustrated my improvement-s embodied in a flat bed web printel@ ing machine having an oscillatory curved surfaced platen or impression member adapted for rolling movement along or upon a stationary flat form during impression, but'it will be apparent that the invention is not restricted to this special application, but' mav also be embodied in a machine wherein oscillator)y or other equivalent movement is 'imparted to the form supporting bed itself to compel rolling movement of the same along the platen or impression surface during impression. It will also be apparent that-the invention is not restricted in its application to machines whose couples have oscillatory members. since a similar result can be obtained by rotating one or the other of thc members of the couple upon an eccentric support, in which case it may be desirable so to construct the platen or impression member of each couple. and to provide each such member with a plurality of impression surfaces adapted to co-operate successively with the form, and so disposed as to serve as a means for counterbalancing the platen or impression members.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown also the platen or impression members of the couples, by reason of their oscillatory movement are adapted to lift from the forms after impression in order to permit shifting of the web and passage'of the form rollers between the members of the couples for inking but it is obviously nonessential so to move the platen or impression members since it will be apparent that an equivalent result may be attained by imparting to said members a simple rocking movement whilst the forms themselves are moved toward and away from the same before and after impression to provide for the shiftinrr of the web and the traversal of the form rollers across the forni in inlring.

ln the embodiment of my invention herein shown also, the members of the initial printing and perfecting couples are constructed and arranged to go on and off impression simultaneously and to travel in reverse directions, so as to permit of more readily equalizing the movement of the web and lesseningl the jar and vibration which would otherwise arise from the operation of the machine, but I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself in this particular, it being apparent that one couple may alternate with the other upon impression, in which case it will be desirable or needful to duplicate the web controlling or equalizing means 'so as to permit stoppage of the web at one couple whilst it is being shifted at the other couple, Yor if desirable or necessarj,1 the members of the respective couples may travel in the same direction during impression instead of in reverse directions.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown the web manipulating or socializing means, includes a set ot' looping rolls adincent to each end of the machine, one being adjacent to the infeed, and another adjacent to the outfeed, but where the couples re ranged to alternate upon impression. om such set of looping rolls may he providefil at each side of each printing couple` but. it is obviously within the scope et my invention to substitute for such looping rolls various other web manipulating or eqnalizing means. For example. the web may be supported upon guide rollers at opposite sides of the individual or plural couples, and these guide rollers may be oscillated or reciprocated backward and forward to slow down and stop the web during impression and to permit the same to travel at the reo,- uisite increased velocity between impressions whilst being fed into and out or" the machine with a constant velocity.

In the embodiment of my invention hereinV Lerares f 553 shown also, the web guiding or manipulating devices'are so constructed and arranged as to operate to raise and lower the web at the point or points where the same passes between the form and the platen or impression member, in such a manner as t free the ,same from the form during inking and to prevent sagging of the web upon the form in such A pression, whilst operatins.v also to'reduce the drag and stress imposed upon the web by contact of the impression surface therewithl when the web is being shifted, but it will be apparent also that my inventionis not refl stricted to such 'construction and arrangement of the web guiding means since, as before stated, the bed may be raised and lowcred for purposes of inking in which case a mere slacking up of the web may be utilized to free it from excessive frictional contact A with the impression surface when beingv shifted.

A In the drawings 1 and 1 represent, respectively, the beds for the initial printing and `perfectingi couples of the improrved printing machine, each supporting a flat form 2, and iixedly mounted in the frame of the machine, which is not shown in the drawings, in such a way as to obviate any difficulty which might arise from loosening or throwing the type from the forms in cases `where the forms themselves are raised and lowered or reciprocated or oscillated at high speed.

3 and 3n represent the platen or impression members arranged to co-act with the respective form beds 1, 1, each of said impression members being provided with a curved impression surface 4, adapted for rintin co-operation with the forms 2, and

eing urther provided with bearers 23'* extended lengthwise along their opposite sides,V

designed r. rolling contact with similar track-like bearers 26n upon the beds 1, l, at opposite sides of the forms 2, and with curved toothed racks or gear surfaces 23 parallel with said bearers and meshing with racks 26 carried by thebeds 1, 1a, parallel with their bearers 26a. Each platen or impression member is pivotally supported as shown at 5, at a point eccentric to its curved impression surface 4, which latter is struck with a comparatively large radius greatly egrceeding the distance of said eccentric support from the impression surface 4:, so that, as in my said copending patent application, a comparatively slight extent of angular or rotatlng movement of the impression member around the center from which the surface 4 is struck will suffice to move said center radially to an extent sufficient to cause the platen member completely to traverse'the form upon the related bed 1 or l as is needful to complete the impression of the form upon the web.

a manner as to blur when on iin-- The members 3, 3 have central upstandin,r bearing portions/5 Lat. o posite sides in which bearings are provi ed for their cccentric support at 5, and the latter are coupled to crank shafts 6, 6 journaledin the side frames of the machine and provided. respectively, with gearing i by means of which they ma be operacongointly from shafts 8 enten ed len hwise along the sides of the machine and riven in any preferred way. The driving means for the shafts 6, 6 may obviously be varied at will, but it is preferable that the same be of such a nature that the members 3, 3 are moved in opposite directions in order that the jar and stress' which would otherwise be imposed upon the Amachine may be kept within bounds and prevented from rising to dangerous proportions. v

The wrist pins which adord the su ports 5, 5 for each member 3, 3 may with a vanta e be connected together and the throw pf tie cranks adorded thereby is sufficient, as in' dicated on the drawings to lower the impression surfaces 4 into printing cooperation with the forms upon the beds l1, 1la during the period 'or interval of impression and to raise lsaid impression surfaces, after each impression, to a sutiicient height above the forms, as indicated in Figure 1 to permit the form rollers 11, 11 to traverse the intervening spaces for i'nking the forms preparatory to the next succeeding impression.-

As herein shown, each bed 1, 1l has at o posite sides of its central part upwardly directed guides or forks 9 between which 1s arranged to slide a block 10 pivotally mounted upon the sides of the corresponding impression member 3 or 3 s0 as to retain the members 1 and 3 and 1n and 3 of the respective printing .couples in relation when the impression members are elevated so that the gears 23 may engagewith the bed racks 26 again after said members 3, 33 are afterwards lowered. Various other 'means may be substituted for v that herein shown for eii'ectin this purpose as, for example, the bed rac s may themselves be provided with stems engaged for vertical sliding movement in the beds so that the racks themselves traverse one surface of each fork 9 in such a' manner as to enter the leading ends of the gear surfaces 23 into engagement with the ica lll

adjace t ends of the bed racks 26 and when after i ipression, the limpression members J3, 3 rise from the positions shown in F igure4, the blocks will traverse the opposite surfaces of the respective forks as the gear surfacesv are withdrawn from engagement with said bed racks. I have not. deemed 1t necessary to illustrate herein the exact conformation of these surfaces of the forks, which will be somewhat V shaped, since the same may be readily plotted out by persons skilled in laying out gearing.

As in my co-pending patenty application, the form rollers 11, 11 are supported by endless chains 12 mounted upon sprocket wheels 14. one pair of which are concentric with an ink drum 15 so th'at as the 'rollers 1-1 are drawn along by said chains they7 will firstv receive a supply of ink from said drum and afterwards upon elevation of the corresponding member 3 or 3 after impression will be moved between the same and the related form in order to ink the latter, passing from between the. form and impression member in time to avoid interference with the next lowering of said impression member for the succeeding impression. Various other forms of inking apparatus may ob.

viously be substituted for that shown herein.

As herein shown the carriage upon which the form rollers 11 are supported and which will ordinarily be connected at opposite ends with the chains 12, 12 is provided with a sheet metal cover or shield 16, extending over the form rollers and vibrator (if the latter be provided) so as to prevent contact of the web with said rolls in case the web be slack, and also to prevent entangling of the web with said rolls in case of breakage. This cover or shield may be made in hinged sections with suitable fastenings or it may be held in place by wing-nuts or thelike, so

f as to lbe capable of being lifted or removed when access to the rollers is desired.

In the structure shown, the eccentric supports-.5 for the impression members 3 and 3 serve not' onlv to compel the raising and lowering of said members requisite. for the passage of the form rollers beneath said members for inking', but also co-operate with the connections of said members with the 4beds (that is the gear surfaces 23 and rethelr strokes, but partakes of the character of true rotatory movementsince the center of mass of cach of said members is moved through an endless path in such a way as to permit operation of the machine at a rate of speed considerablv greater than would be upossible were sai members simply reciproca-ted. In a printing machine such as that to which my present invention relates this is a feature of material importanceand advantage, and further important advantages are attained by reason of the direct gear or equivalent connection between the impression member and bed during impression, since such connection serves to assure or compel rolling co-action of the platen with the form. and guards against-slip of one member of the couplerelativel to the Vother which would otherwise be llkely to occur and which would result in the tearing of the web from the machine.

In the structure shown, the web .e is fed into the machine from the web roll, not shown. continuously'at a uniform rate of speed by means of the infeed rolls 17 and is thence passed as indicated "at m1 downwards around a vertically movable looping or equalizing roll 18, whence it passes upwardly over guide rolls 19 and 20 and downwards beneath a web manipulating roll 21 which is capable of movement along an angular guideV and directs the web between the bed and impression member 3 of the first printing couple as shown at m2, whence said web is directed around' a similar manipulating roll 22 at the opposite side of the first printing couple and passes around guide rolls 24, 25, etc., to the second printing couple, where it is received by other web manipulating rolls 27 and 28, which are arranged at opposite sides of the couple similarly to the rolls 21 and 22, andserve to direct the web-between the bed a-nd impression members at the couple and to controllably move said web as will be hereinafter pointed out.

From the second printing couple, the web is passed upwardly around guide rolls 29 and 30 and thence downwards as indicated .at m* around a vertically movable looping` or equalizing roll 31 whence it is directed to the outfeed 32 which serves to deliver it from the machine "continuously at a uniform rate of travel.

The equalizing or looping rolls 18 and 31 are adapted to be moved vertically in such a manner as tocompensate for the web. fed into the machine during the period of impression, atv which ^time those parts of the web which are receiving the impressions of the stationary forms at the res ective rinting couples must obviously e hel stationary, and since the structure and arrangement of the parts is such that the impression loo is peiformed by the rocking enrolling coaction of the curved platen member upon and along the form supported upon the related bed-within a comparatively small or short portion of the 'time allowed for the feeding of a page length of the web through the machine. it will `be apparent that a comparatively shortl travel of said rolls'18 and 31 vertically will be sui'ient to effect-the necessary compensation. In the structure shown, the period of impression, during which the web must be held stationary, is relatively short, as compared' with the periods or intervals between impressions, during which the web may be vmoved or fed between the members ofthe printing couple, the impressionibeing completed, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4, in approximately one fourth of the time requisite for the feeding of a page length of the web intoand out of the machine, so that it will be apparent that the web need beheld stationary but for' about one fourth of the time,- and consequently compensation need be made but for about one fourth of a page nlength of web, and the increased velocity of web feed requisite for eii'ecting such compensation may be distributed over approximately three quarters of the period required for the feed-A ing of the page length into and out ofthe machine, whereby it will be understood that.

a considerably increased length of web may be fed through the machine in agiven tlme than would otherwise be possible, and the output of t-he machine may be correspondmgly increased, such output being manifestly limited by the speed at which it is possible to feed the web. Preferably also the rollers 18 and 31 will make a long easy movement which will change the-speed of the web between the intervals of impression very gradually from a stop to its-highest speed andl back again, so that the variations y y in the travel of .the web will be extended over a longer time than in the case of ordinary bed and cylinder web machines, and

`the stress upon the web which commonly occurs in flat bed web printing machines as ordinarily constructed will be much reduced and operation of the machine permitted at a greater speed. \The embodiment of my improvements herein illustrated, wherein the form supporting member or bed is stas tionary, and the curved surfaced impression member or platen is caused to rock or roll along the same during impression, presents important advantages also in that the rolling or rocking movement of the platen or impression member permits of being utilized to assist in stripping the printed web from the curved platen surface during the completion of impression, so that much less' stress is applied to the web upon the commencement of the compensating action and there is therefore less likelihood of tearlng y aerei@ i [5 1 the same, whilst' at the same time the form bed being stationary assures a light, strong and simple construction, and avoids likelihood of the type being thrown from the form, the possibility of which, in case the \form bed were reciprocated vertically to throw the machine on and o' impreion and for inking, would prevent operation of the machine at such high speed aS may be attained where the approach and separa tion of the members is accomplished by movement ofthe impression member.

In the structure shown, where lthe impression members move in opposite directions, the equalizing or looping rolls 18 and 31, are positioned adjacent, respectively to the infeed and outfeed of the machine and are adapted to be moved simultaneously in opposite directions, first to take up and pay out the web during impression and afterwards to shift the web, and it will be apparentt that a material advantage is attainable by this construction, since it permits of employing'a lever connection between. said rolls, so constructed as to move opposite directions, whereby a single cam may be utilized for the operation of said rolls, thereby avoiding such diiliculties as are likely to arise from une ual wear where different cams are employe for operating the looping rolls indivldually.

The angular guides 33 along which the web manipulating rolls 2l and 22 and 27 and 28 for the lrespective first printing and second or perfecting couples are movable are as herein shownarranged at. angles of about 45 to the travel of the runof web between them and attangles of about 90 to one another, and according to my invention, in 4the embodiment herein shown the rolls are mounted in slide bars 33*1 andare moved along these guides in such a manner as to raise and lower the run of web between them at each printing couple so as to correspond with the lowering of the impression members during the time of impression and their elevation after impression sufficiently to allow the passage of the inking rollersfacross the forms. The rolls are also capable of being so manipulated `along these guides as to cause the run of web between them to assume-'slightly different anglesto vthe form, for example as shown in Figures 3 reduced, rendering it possible to operate-the machine at a speed much greater than: would 'otherwise be. practicable, and also preventing the smutting of the web.

It will be apparent that other arrangements of equalizing means may be employed without departure from my invention, or the web may bc fed throu h the machine by variable feeding means a though such means are not usually satisfactory, and various means other than that hereinbefore referred to for moying and guiding the manipulating rolls 18 and 22 and 27 and 28 may also be provided, adapted to maintain ar constant length of web between the equalizing rolls during the operation of the machine whilst serving to raise and lower or otherwise move said manipulating rolls to assure the desired application of the web to the forms.

It will also be apparent that my present invention comprehends various` other changes in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the improved printing machine as, for example, a struct-ure wherein the bed instead of the impression member partakes of a rocking or oscillatory movement whilst the curved surfaced impression member of the printing couple remains stationary. in which event the means herein shown for operating the impression member may be employed in suitably modified form for operating the bed, whilst the web equalizing and manipulating means. herein shown or equivalent means may be employed for stopping the movement of the web during impression and shifting it forward after impression. Where the impression member is stationary, however, and the bed rises and falls in its rocking movement it will sulice to move the web manipulating rolls only enough to relieve the drag upon the web after impression and to present and withdraw the same properly to and from the form lduring impression.

I have not deemed it necessary to show the mechanical movements for all the different parts shown as anyone skilled in the art can readily supply them by following the description herein contained.

Having thusv described my .y invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A web printing machine having a printing couple including members one of which is a bed stationary during operation and is adapted to support a flat form, and the other of which is a movable impression member, having a curved segmental impression surface',means for operating the movable impression member of said printing couple to ermit rolling co-action between said mem ers during impression and to move the movable impression memberV toward and away from the stationary member, and means for moving the web between the members of the printing couple with periods of rest or'dwell during impression.

2. A web `printing.-macliine having a printing couple including members one of which is an impression member having a curved impression surface, and the other of which is a bed adapted to support a flat iorm, means for moving a web between the members, and means for rocking the impression member -upon an axis eccentric to its curved impression surface topermit rolling co-aetion of said surface with the forni upon the bed and to assist in stripping the web from said surface during impression.

3. A web printing machine haw'ng a printing couple including members one of ,which is a bed adapted to support a flat form and the other `of which is an impression member having a curved impression surface of comparatively great radius, means for rocking one of lthe members in rolling* co-action with the other member, operable to produce alternating periods of impression .and non-impression, the periods ot' impression being short as compared with the periods of non-impression, means for feeding a web into and from the machine with substantially constant velocity, land web manipulating means operable to stop the web in the machine during the comparatively short periods of impression, and to advance the web during the longer periods of non-impression to compensate for such stoppage.

4. A web printing machine having a printing couple including members one of which is a bed adapted to support a fiat form and the other of which is an impression men'lbcr having a curved impression surface of comparatively great radius, means for rocking one of the members in rolling co-action with the other. operable to pro-duce alternating periods of impression and non-impression, the periods of impression being short as compared wlth the periods of non-lmpression, means for feeding .a web into and y from the machine with substantially constant velocity, and web .manipulating means operable to restrict IIS l period to maintain rolling cofaction anni Y ing a curved impression surface ofeomparativelytgreat radius, means operable to impart to e movable member of the printing couple rocking movement u n an axis U eccentric to its curved impression surface and to move the movable member'toward and away from thev fixed member, toothed ars associated with the res tiveA memrS and engageable during t e im ression tween said members during impression, said gears being dsengageable during the non-impression period, and means for moving'the web between the members of the printing couple l and operable to maintain said web stationary during impression.

6. A web printing machine having a printing coup e including members one of f which is a bed adapted to support a. flat form and the other of which is an impression member having a curved im ression surface of comparatively great radius, one of. said members being stationa during impression, meansl for moving e other 2,5 member of said couple, continuously along an endless curved path operable to permit rolling co-action between said ,members during imrion and to separate said members im ression for the passage between them o an. inking roller, and means tor moving a web between the members of said couple, operable to hold said web stationary during impression.

7. A web printing machine having a printing couple including members one of which is a bed adapted to support a latform and the other of which is an impression member having a curved im ression4 surface of comparatively great radius, one

49 of said members being stationary during impression and the other member of the couple having a mechanical actuating connection operable to move said member along an endless curvedl path eccentric to said curved impression surface, operable to impart rolling co-action between said members of the printing couple during impression and to separate-said members after impression for the passage between them of. 50 an inking roller, and means for moving a web between the members of the couple operable lto hold said web stationary durmg impression.

8. A web printing machine having a printing couple including members one of which is a bed adapted to support a flat form and the other of which is an impression member having a curved impression surface of comparatively great radius, one of said members p, being stationary during impression and the other member 'of the couple having a mechanical actuating connection operable to move said member along an endless curved path eccentric to said curved impression sur- 5 face and operable to separate said members coaction between them during impression il@ and means for moving a web between sai members of the couple operable to hold said web stationary during impression.

9. A web rinting machine having a printing coup e including members one ot which is a bed adapted to support a dat form and the other oct which is an imprsion member having a curved impression surface of comparatively great radius, one of said members being stationary durin impression and the other member ot sai couple having a support operable to move said member along an endless curved ath eccentric to said impression surface an op"- erable to separate the members after impression for the passage ot a form roller between them, means for maintaining rolling co-action between said members during impression, and means for moving a we between the members of the couple operable tn hold said web stationary during impression.

10. A web printing machine having a printing couple including members one ot which is a bed adapted to support a Hat form and the other of which is .an impressionmember having a curved impression surface of comparatively great radius, one of said members being stationary during impression and the other member of the couple having a mechanical connection operable to move said member along an end# less curved path eccentric to said impression surface and operable to separate the members after impression for the passage of a form roller between them, means for maintaining rolling co-ac-tion between said members during impression, and means for moving a web between the members of the couple operable to hold said web stationary during impression.

. 1l. A web printing machine having 'a printing couple including members one of. which is a bed adapted to support a fiat form and the other of which is an impression member )having a curved impression surface of compara-tively great radius, one of said members being stationary during impression. means to impart to the other member of the couple continuous oscillatory movement about an axis eccentric to said curved impression surface, to move said member continuously along an endless curvilinear path, means for maintaining rolling co-action between the members during impression, and means for moving a `web between the members of the couple lill lll@

lill) printing couple including members, one of which is a bed adapted to support a flat form and the other of which is an impression member having a curved surface of comparatively great radius, one of said members being stationary during impression, means to impart to the other member of the couple continuous oscillatory movenient about an axis eccentric to said curved impression surface to move said member continuously along an endless curvilinear path, through a vportion of which paththe member will have rolling co-action and through another ortion of which path they will be separatedpto allow of movement of a web therebetween, meansJ for maintaining rolling cti-action between the members during impression, and means, operableto hold said web stationary during lmpression, for moving the web between the members of the couple between impressions.

1,3. A web printing machine having a printing couple including a bed adapted to support a flat form, an impression member, having a curved impression surface, mounted for rolling co-action with the bed about an -axis eccentric to its curved impres-l sion surface, web l manipulating l means adapted for engagement with the web at the opposite sides of said couple, said manipulating means being adapted to relax contact of the web upon the impression surface after an impression for relieving stress upon the web during its travel subsequent to impression.

14. A web printing machine having a printing couple including a bed member adapted to support a flat form and an impression member co-acting therewith, means for moving one member of the printing couple. through an endless curvilinear path to bring the members oli and on impression, and -means adapted to withdraw a web from .contact with the impression member to relieve stress upon the web during its travel after impression.

15. In a web riiiting machine, a printing couple embodying a Hat form member, and a curved impression member, means for moving one of said members along a continuous curved path to eii'ect a' rocking ooaction between said members during impression and the separation of said members between impressions.

16. In aweb printing machine, a print.- ing couple embodying a iiat form member and an impression member having a curved surface, one of said members being stationary during impression. means operable to impart to one member of the couple rocking movement to permit of rolling co-action between the members durin impression, to remove 'the movable memer from engage ment with the other member and rock it in' a reverse direction between impressions.

,p passin the movement of said movable member being along an endless curved path, and means for a web between said members and operabe to compel periods of rest or dwell of the web during impressions.

17.y In a rinting machine, a printinev cou le em ying a flat form member an a aten having a curved impression surface a aptetl for rolling oo-action on an intermediate Web during impression, in combination with means, supported independently et the platen and movable independentlyY thereof, for laying the web on the curved impression surface of the platen forwardly of the line of contact between the platen and the form on said form member, and stripping it from the fiat form member and from the curved impression surface of the platen rearwardly of said line of Contact.

18. In a printing machine, a printing couple embodying a flat form member and a curved impression member1 adapted for rolling co-action on an intermediate web during impression, means for rolling one of said members over the other member during impression to produce such rolling co-action and to move one of said members in a perpendicular direction toward and away from the face of the other member between impressions, in combinationwith .means movable separately from the movable member and in directions toward and away from the plane of the form member for laying the web on the impression member rior to impression and stripping the we from the Jform member and from the impression member after impression.

19. In a printing machine, a printing couple embodying a fiat form member and a member having a curved impression surface adapted for rolling co-action on an intermediate web during impression, in combination with a pair of directional rolls separately movable in opposite directions toward and away from the plane of the form member for laying the unprinted portion of the web on the impression surface of the platen while the printed portion of said web is stripped from the platen and from the lform member.

20. In a printing machine, a printing couple embodying a curved impression member and a flat form member, one of which is stationary and the other movable, means for producing rolling co-action between said members and means, movable independentlyT of the movable member, for guiding awe 'be-tween t-he members, said means being suported independently of the movable member and operable to strip the printed portion of the web from said members during the im ression period.

21. n a printing machine, a printing couple embodying a fiat form member and a curved impression platen, means for moving lll) iid

nii-rama the curved impression laten along an endless curvliinear path uringimpression to eect engagement of and separation between the members of the printing couple' ing co-action between said members during impression and to separate said members to allow form inking means to pass therebetween when the` members are of impression and to assist in stripping the printed web from said platen, and acontinuously moving form roller for inking the form between impressions.

23. A printing machine embodying a flat form member and a curved impression platen, means for eccentrically moving the platen into and out of, engagement with the form member and for rolling the platen while in engagement with the form member, said means bein so constituted to complete the impression t rough the rolling co-action between 'said members in a comparatively short rolling Contact.

24. A web printing machine embodying an impression member havlng a curved ima lat form member and a curved impression member, means operable to periodically move the impression member toward and from the face of the flat form member to bring the impression member ed and on impression, and means independent of the impression member and movable independently` thereof in directions toward and away from the plane of the Vform member for holding the web free and clear of both members between impressions.

25. in a printing machine, a printing couple embodying a Hat form-member and an impression member 'in the form of a platen having a curved impression surface,

means for moving one of said members on and od impression, said means serving to maintain the members of the printing couple on impression during a period of less than one fourth of its total travel.

26. ln a rinting machine, a rinting couple embo ying a Hat form'mem er and a curved impression member, means for moving one portion of the impression member in a circular path, and means for restricting another portion of said member to movement in a substantially straight path toward and away from the other member ot the couple, whereby the movable member is moved ofi' and on impression and is rocked over the other member while on impression.

27. ln a printing machine, a printing couple embodying a stationary lat form member and an impression member having a curved impression surace, a unitary member movable in a circular path and cooperating with the impression member to move the same on and ofi impression, and means for guiding the impression member for bodily gvratory movement in a direction toward and away from thedat form member, whereby the impression member is maintained in co-operative relation with the tlat form member and has rolling co-action therewith while on impression.

28. lin a printing press, a printing couple embodying a, form member and a movable impression member having rolling coaction, in combination Awith mechanism em.- bodying means for supporting the movable impression member on an axis of pivotal movement, and also comprising means for moving said axis about a second axis, whereby the movable member is moved forwardly ii one plane and backwardly in a diferent p ane.

29. In -a printing machine, a printing couple vembodying a form member and a rocking impression member pivoted on an axis extending transversely of the platen and adjacent its impression surface, means for rocking the impression member for- Wardly in one plane and returning it in a diderent plane.

30. In aprinting press, a form member,

pression surface and being pivotally mounted on an axis extending transversely of the platen and adjacent such surface and means for rockng said impression member about a center eccentric to its curved surface.

3l. ln a printing press, a form member, an impression member having a rocking .movement and pivoted for suclli movement on an axis extending transversely through the platen substantially at its impression surface, web feeding means and mechanism whereby an impression may be taken in less than one halfl the total movement of the impression member.

32. In a printing machine, a printing couple embodying a flat, stationary form member, a continuously moving pivoted platen having a segmental printing surface, and mea-ns for guiding a web between the couple.

33. in a printing press, a stationary form member, an impression member having a curved impression surface pivotally mounted adjacent such surface and means for moving said impression member on an axis eccentric to its curved surface.

3a. In a web printing mechanism, a printing couple, 'one member of which is capable of movement on and oli' impression, devices for guiding a web between said couple and a web manipulatin mechanism operable to free the web from t e impression member of said couple, when oil' impression and including means for maintaining a uniform length of web between said i ing devices w en the couple yis on and o im ression.

35. In a printing press aving a printing couple one member of which is movable toward and awa from the other to throw the couple on an oiiimpression, a web manipulating mechanism movable toward the members of said cou le during imprelon to position the web or impression and to move away from said members between impressions.

36. In a web printing press, a printing couple, means to ide a web between sai couple, said guiding means being movable .during impression toward one member of the couple to position the web for impression.

37. In a printing press, a printing couple, means operable to move one member of the cou le on and off impression, means for gui ing a web between said couple and means independent of the couple to move said web into and out of engagement with the impression member of said couple during im ression.

38. n a Hat bed web machine, a printing cou le including a. bed adapted to support a at form and a platen having a curved impression surface, means vto ink the form, means operable to move one member of said cou le on and oii' impression, means for gui ing a,4 web between the couple including means operable to retain said web out of contact with said impression surface during inkingof the form.

39. A web machine having a printing couple including a stationary bed adapted to support a flat form and a platen having a impressionv surface, means opera le to Amove the platen on and off impression to effect rolling coaction with said form,,said

,movement`l being of les extent than the length of the form` means for guiding a web between the bed and platen and means engageable with said web to cause the web to dwell at the time of impression, said period of dwell being shorter than the interval between impressions. f

40. A web printing machine, a coupleembodying a bed adapted to support :i iat form. said bed being stationary during impresion, and a rocking pla-ten having a curved impression surface coacting with said form, means for guiding a web between the bed and platen, means operable to feed a web into and out of the machine and means, movable independently of the platen, to cause the web to dwell during impression.

v 43. In a printin 4l. A printing machine having a printing couple including members, one of which is a xed stationary bed adapted to sup ort a fiat form and the other of which mem Irs is a movable impression member having a curved impression surface of comparatively large radius, and means operable to impart Ito the movable member of the printing couple a rocking movement on an axis eccentric to its curved impression surface and operable to throw the members of the couple on and oil' impression.

42. A printing machine having a couple including a fixed, stationary bed adapted to support a flat form, and a movable platen havi a curved impression surface, means opera le to im art to said platen rockin movement to e ect rolling coaction with sai form; and to throw the couple on and oli impression, and means for guiding a web between the bed and platen.

machine, a stationary form bed, an osc' ating impression platen having a curved working face, the axis of oscillation of said platen being between the axis of curvature of its working face and the working face. y

44. A web printing machine having a printing couple one member of which 1s a curved impression platen and the other member a bed adapted to support a dat form, one member of said couple being movable on and off impression, means to roll one member across the companion member, means for idin a web between the members of sai coup e, controlling means engageable with the web to cause said web to dwell durin the-intervals of impression and to shift t e web during the intervals between impression, said means operating to cause the intervals'of dwell to be materially shorter than the intervals of shift.

45. A web printin press embodying a flat stationary form d, a rocking platen with a curved impression surface, means for moving the platen toward the plane of the form. bed to engage the form and 'effect impression and to retractV the platen from the form to permit passage of a form roller between the form and platen, the periods of engagement of the platen with the form being shorter than the periods of non-engagement therewith, and means for passing a web between thev bed and (platen with alternate periods. of rest an movement, the periods of rest being materially shorter than the periods of movement.

46. A web printing press embodying a flat stationary form bed, a rocking platen with a curved impression surface, 4and mounted for rocking movement on an axis eccentric to its curved impression surface, means for-moving the platen toward the plane of the form bed to engage the form and e'ect impression and to retract the platen from the form to permit passage of a form roller between the form and platen, the periods of engagement of the platen with the form being,r shorter than the pe- 5 riods of non-engagement therewith, and means for passing a web between the bed and platen with alternate periods of rest In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this seventh day of September` 1918.

' JOHN D. CAPLINGER. 

